No. 2 Ohio State overcomes struggles to top Indiana 38-17

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COLUMBUS, OH - OCTOBER 8: Mike Weber #25 of the Ohio State Buckeyes leaps over the goal line for a one-yard touchdown run in the third quarter against the Indiana Hoosiers at Ohio Stadium on October 8, 2016 in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State defeated Indiana 38-17. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

No. 2 Ohio State overcomes struggles to top Indiana 38-17

COLUMBUS, OH - OCTOBER 8: Mike Weber #25 of the Ohio State Buckeyes leaps over the goal line for a one-yard touchdown run in the third quarter against the Indiana Hoosiers at Ohio Stadium on October 8, 2016 in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State defeated Indiana 38-17. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — J.T. Barrett ran for 137 yards and a touchdown and passed for another score Saturday and Ohio State beat Indiana 38-17.

Second-ranked Ohio State was forced to rely mostly on its ground game, which accounted for 290 yards, and some tough play by its defense — including a critical fourth-quarter stop on its own 4 yard line following a Barrett inception — to fend off the Hoosiers, who had upset Michigan State last weekend.

Ohio State’s defense held when it had to, also forcing Indiana to turn the ball over on downs on the Hoosiers’ own 33 with 5:22 left and the Buckeyes leading 31-17. Five plays later, Barrett hit Dontre Wilson with a 37-yard touchdown pass to put the game out of reach.

Safety Malik Hooker sealed the win by picking off Richard Lagow on Indiana’s next series.

Barrett was 9-of-23 for 93 yards. He carried the ball 26 times.

Both teams struggled to establish any offensive tempo.

THE TAKEAWAY

Indiana: Buoyed by last week’s upset of Michigan State, Indiana was effective at times but couldn’t keep up with the more talented Buckeyes.

Ohio State: The Buckeyes’ defense played tough and kept Ohio State in the game. But Ohio State showed its passing game can be stopped.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

A largely unimpressive win over an unranked Big Ten team isn’t likely to garner Ohio State many more first-place votes.

UP NEXT

Indiana: The Hoosiers face another stiff test next week at home against undefeated No. 12 Nebraska. The Cornhuskers were off this week.

Ohio State: The Buckeyes may face their toughest challenge of the season next week when they play No. 11 Wisconsin on the road. The Badgers were off this week.